chamberlain



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. CHAMBERLAIN.

HAND GAR.

No. 468,611. Fab. 9,1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. CHAMBERLAIN.

HAND GAR.

No. 468.611. 2 Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

MINI? M-FEIHIII :IlIflIl/l///////////// UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR CHAMBERLAIN, OF OENTRALIA, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO G. M.LEASE, OF SAME PLACE.

HAN D-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,611, dated February9, 189%.

Application filed April 27, l 891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known the t I, EDGAR CHAMBERLAIN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Centralia, in the county of Boone and State of 5Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in RailwayHand-Oars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of said invention, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings,

[ and to the letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which forma part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hand-cars foruse on railroads.

As the development of speed is a matter of great importance in railwayhand-cars, it has been my object to provide such propelling appliancesof simple construction as will transmit the power applied to thehand-lever direel; to the driving-wheel without the loss incident to thefriction of several gear-wheels or other intricate gearings, and at thesame time to provide for taking advantage of the momentum of the car toproduce great speed, and, further,it has been my object to provideincreased facilities for adjusting and folding in the reaches or theframe carrying the third wheel in a-folding car.

The invention consists in connecting the hand-car-propelling lever to asegmentrack, which segment-rack engages a pinion-wheel 0n the axis ofthe driving-wheel, the said pinion being provided with a suitable clutchmechanism, which will cause the pinion to lock with the driving-Wheelwhen the segment is drawn down.

The invention further consists in certain other novel features in theconstruction and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter de scribed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in sideelevation of my improved hand-car. Fig. 2 is a bottom or plan View ofthe car. Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing in detail the pinion-wheeland clutch mechanism Figwiis a perspective view of a portion of thefolding frame, showing the manner of connecting the arms.

The construction of car to which my im Serial No. 390,627. (No model.)

provements are preferably applied is such as is shown in theillustration, having a main driving-Wheel A, acted on by the propellingappliances, and the body B of the car practically moving on one track,though having 5 5 an extension-frame O, provided with a small wheel D,which gives support to the car'by the wheel D, engaging the other trackand running thereon. The car is provided with suitable platforms E andF, on which the op erator can sit while propelling the car.

The propelling-lever G is located in substantially upright positionabout centrally of the car, and, being fulcrumed near its center on theside frames H of the car, has an. oscillating movement back and forth.This hand or propelling lever G is constructed in the form of a frameand provided with the handle-bar I, similar to those used on other cars.

To one side of the driving-wheel A is secured in suitable bearings J asegment-rack K. The segment-rack is so located with reference to thedriving-wheel that its periphery extends to within a short distance ofthe axle of the driving-wheel. The axle of the wheel A is made to turnwith the wheel, and upon this axle rigidly secured is a ratchet-wheel a,and also loosely mounted thereon a pinionwheel 6, which, by means ofaclutch mechanism acting on the ratchet-wheel a, is locked onto the axlewhen the said pinion Z7 is turned in a forward direction or turned bythe downward movement of the segment-rack; but when the pinion is turnedin a backward direction it will be loose upon the axle and al- 8 5 lowthe segment-rack to be brought to an elevated or raised position, aswill more fully hereinafter appear.

Connecting with the lower portion of the propelling-lever G is a rod 0,flexibly secured 9o thereto at one end and flexibly connecting at itsother end with the segment-rack at its lower extremity. The propellinglever G, thus connected with the segment-rack K, imparts thereto anoscillating movement, and 5 by this means the power applied to the leveris transmitted directly to the driving-wheel, the pinion-wl1eel b andclutch mechanism being for all practical purposes a part of the wheel A.Thus it is that by such propelling 10o mechanism there is a directapplication of an important point in my propelling mechanism, as thepower applied to the segment-rack is transmitted directly to-thedriving-wheel. The axle L is provided with the ratchet-wheel a, maderigid thereon, and between this ratchet-wheel a and the pinion-wheel bis a metal bifurcated plate (1, which serves to support and carry thepawl e. The pinion-wheel b is provided with an angle-arm f, a portion ofwhich extends into the slot g, formed by the arms h of the bifurcatedplate (1 and works therein, engaging the arm 2' of the pawl when thepinion-wheel is turned in a forward direction, thus locking the pinionupon the axle by the pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel. It will also beseen that by the revolution of the pinion-wheel in a backward direction,as will bethe case when the segment is being brought into its raisedposition, the arm f will release its pressure on the arm 1' of the pawlbybeing thrown against the opposite arm h of the bifurcated plate andallow the pawl to get free of the ratchet-wheel. One of the arms h ofthe pawl-carrying plate (1 is bent over to form a stop for the arm i ofthe pawl and serves substantially the same function. as the arm f. Itwill be understood that the plate das well as the pinion is made to turnon the axle L; but by the action of the arm f upon the pawl e, whichonly occurs when the pinion is being turned in a forward directiombothpinion and plate (I are locked to the axle and only turn therewith.

It will be observed by the mechanism herein described that while thepropelling power is applied direct to the driving-wheel, yet the turningof the driving-wheel is not retarded by the friction of the propellingmechanism, as would be the case if so geared as to be set in motion bythe running of the car. These appliances remain at rest at any pointwithout affecting the running of the car or decreasing the momentum. Onthe other hand, the devices especially permit the application of anydegree of power to the driving-wheel when the same is turning with greatrapidity, thus taking advantage of the momentum in such a way as toincrease the speed of the car very greatly.

The frame for carrying the small wheel D to give a running support tothe car consists of the main arm 0, provided with the axle j and thestay-frame Z. These two portions of theframe are hinged to the body ofthe car and are adapted to be detached the one from the other and foldedin at the side of the car. The main arm 0 near its end is mortised toallow the end of the arm Z to enter and be held therein by the pin m,which is inserted through the arms 0 and Z when the openings formedtherein for that purpose register one with the other. Owing to theweight of the wheel D, it is necessary that when the arm C is folded inthere should be a suitable support therefor, and for this purpose Iprovide a chain on' the end of the arm 0, which is made fast thereto,and connect therewith the pin on. By means of the chained pin 1% and thepin-hole 0, formed in the side frame of the car, the frame 0 issupported and the chain and pin made to perform a double function.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby LettersPatent, is

1. In a railway hand-car, the hand propelling-lever centrally pivoted inupright position in the car-frame, a segment-rack connected to saidhand-lever at its lower end by means of a link connection, apinion-wheel mounted loosely on .the axle of the drivingwheel andgearing with the rack, a ratchetwheel secured to the driving-wheel oraxle, and a clutch device mounted loosely on the axle, but operated bythe pinion-wheel to turn with the same and engage the ratchet-wheel,substantially as described.

2. In a device for looking a pinion-wheel on the axle of a wheel, thearm rigidly secured to the pinion-wheel, the bifurcated plate carryingthe pawl, and the ratchet-wheel rigidly secured to the axle,substantially as described, whereby the pawl is operated by the arm toengage the ratchet-wheel.

3. In a railway hand-car, the pin m, chained to the end of the frame Oat a suitable distance from the pin-hole formed therein, in combinationwith the pin-hole 0 in the side frame of the car, substantially asdescribed, whereby the said pin is made to perform a twofold function.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

EDGAR CHAMBERLAIN.

Witnesses:

ORSON NIoHoLs, J. T. MITCHELL.

